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Zhao Junchen took the initiative to participate in Zhou Shangjing's plan this time, not only to join forces with Zhou Shangjing to frame the seventh prince Zhu Hejian, but also to fish in troubled waters and take advantage of the opportunity for himself.
Now, because there is too little time, Zhao Junchen does not dare to make too many small moves in secret, otherwise it may affect the success or failure of Zhou Shangjing's plan. It can be said that he is sacrificing the good and the small, and he can only try his best to cooperate with Zhou Shangjing's plan. act.
However, after repeatedly reading the contents of Zhou Shangjing's secret letter, Zhao Junchen continued to deduce the subsequent development of Nanjing in his mind, and still keenly found several entry points that would allow him to seize certain points without affecting the overall plan. Benefit.
For example... Nanjing Imperial College, Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Nanjing Monk and Taoist Department!
Since the Battle of Jingnan, the Ming Dynasty has always had two sets of administrative teams, one each in Beijing and Nanjing. The major yamen in the center of the capital and the Nanjing officialdom often have the same institutions.
There are six yamen in the center of the capital, and there are also six yamen in the officialdom of Nanjing. There is the Metropolitan Procuratorate in the center of the capital, and there is also the Metropolitan Procuratorate in the officialdom of Nanjing. There is the Imperial College in the center of the capital, and naturally there is the Imperial College in Nanjing's officialdom.
This time, the central government's plan to take back power in the Nanjing officialdom was only aimed at the six Nanjing ministries. Therefore, the power of the Nanjing Imperial College, the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Nanjing Monk and Taoist Bureau, and other yamen would still continue for a certain period of time.
And the power of these yamen is also not small.
Take the Nanjing Imperial College as an example. It governs Yingtian Academy, the first of the four major academies in the Ming Dynasty, Nanjing Gongyuan, the largest in the Ming Dynasty, and Jiangnan Book Company, which has the strongest technical strength and influence!
Among them, Yingtian Academy is like the Imperial Academy in the capital. It has the power to recruit tribute students. All the professors in the academy are all great scholars in the world. The tribute students in the academy not only enjoy the best educational resources of this era, but can also directly participate in the imperial examination.
Taking into account the cultural gathering in Jiangnan, Yingtian Academy has naturally gathered a large number of talents. Even Zhao Shancai was born in Yingtian Academy - Zhao Shancai was once called the "Jiangnan Talent", and he was famous at a young age. Because he stood out from the crowd when he was studying at Yingtian Academy.
In fact, compared to the Imperial College in Beijing, which has long been reduced to a gilded place for noble disciples, the quality of talents in Yingtian Academy is even higher.
As for Nanjing Gongyuan, it was the largest scientific examination place during the Ming Dynasty. At least half of the officials in the Ming Dynasty were passed from Nanjing Gongyuan.
There is also Jiangnan Bookstore, which has the most powerful printing technology in this era. One-third of all kinds of mainstream books in the Ming Dynasty were printed and circulated by Jiangnan Bookstore.
In short, in terms of influence in the minds of scholars in the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial College in Nanjing was far superior to the Imperial College in Beijing!
As for the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, it is another base camp for the Qingliu people besides the Capital Metropolitan Procuratorate. It is responsible for supervising the official circles in various places in Southern Zhili. It is also a place for blood production and retirement for the Qingliu forces.
In short, if an outstanding newcomer emerges from Qingliu, they will often arrange to go to the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate for a period of experience and take the opportunity to build momentum. After the reputation of the newcomer in Qingliu reaches a certain level, he will be transferred. He took up a position in the Metropolitan Procuratorate in the capital, thereby continuously providing fresh blood to the Qingliu forces.
At the same time, if the Qingliu people in the center of the temple accidentally stumble, or if they offend someone they should not offend during the impeachment, they will often leave the Capital Procuratorate and go to the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate to escape the limelight. Although Under such circumstances, it is difficult to return to the center of the capital, but at least it is guaranteed to escape intact.
Moreover, relying on the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate's power to supervise southern officialdom, the Qingliu can also continuously manage their connections, enhance their foundation, and protect their family's foundation.
Besides, the Nanjing Monks and Taoists are also in charge of religious affairs in various parts of the south. If the Buddhist forces in the south want to build new monasteries and Taoist temples, they need the permission of the Nanjing Monks and Taoists. If the monasteries and Taoists in the south want to recruit new Monks and Taoists also need the Nanjing Monk and Taoist Priest to issue ultimatums.
The power influence of these three major yamen cannot be underestimated. They are especially deep-rooted in the territory of Nanzhili, and they can also help Zhao Junchen's future plans.
Therefore, after careful consideration, Zhao Junchen decided to use the three major yamen of Nanjing Imperial College, Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Nanjing Sengdaosi as entry points to take advantage of the changes in Nanjing's officialdom to once again expand his influence.
Of course, Zhao Junchen did not dream of completely controlling these three yamen, because Zhao Junchen believed that Zhou Shangjing must also be eyeing these three yamen at this time...at least he was eyeing the Nanjing Imperial College and the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, and would never Let Zhao Junchen pick most of the peaches.
At the same time, Wang Baoren and Zhu Hejian, who are stationed in Nanjing, are not just for nothing, and will definitely take the opportunity to expand their power.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen is not greedy. He does not think that he can successfully control these three yamen, but as long as he can gradually penetrate his influence into these three yamen, he can have limited interference in the decision-making of these three yamen in the future. Zhao Junchen was very satisfied.
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After thinking about it, Zhao Junchen quickly got busy.
But he did not rush to reply to Zhou Shangjing. Instead, he took the lead in sending messages to various cronies and allies in Southern Zhili, such as Huang Yourong, the governor of Southern Zhili, Huo Zhengyuan, the envoy to the southeast, Lin Yunpu, a wealthy businessman from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Cao Wenbin, the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing, etc. Everyone wrote a secret letter and explained a lot of things, and then arranged for a fast horse messenger to send these secret letters to the south of Zhili overnight.
Later, Zhao Junchen summoned Jiang Zheng, an aide who had just joined the Zhao Mansion, and also explained many things to Jiang Zheng, and then asked Jiang Zheng to pack his bags as soon as possible and rush to Nanzhili overnight.
Zhao Junchen sent Jiang Zheng to Nanzhili. In fact, he did not entrust him with much important tasks. He just wanted to add insurance to his follow-up plan. The most important thing was to take the opportunity to examine Jiang Zheng's position and loyalty. He also wanted to take advantage of Jiang Zheng's When leaving the capital, he reorganized his staff team.
It was only at this time that Zhao Junchen finally took the time to write a reply to Zhou Shangjing and sent it to the Zhou Mansion. The content of the reply was naturally a promise that he would fully cooperate with Zhou Shangjing and had no objection to Zhou Shangjing's plan. Everything was based on Zhou Shangjing immediately looked forward.
After all these things were over, Zhao Junchen found that it was already three quarters past midnight and the sky was getting dark. Zhao Junchen was only focused on dealing with things and even forgot to eat dinner. Naturally, he was physically and mentally exhausted.
But Zhao Junchen finally remembered his promise to Fang Ru not long ago. After sending someone to fetch a plate of late-night snacks from the kitchen and eating a few bites, he ordered someone to fetch a basin of water to wash his face and cheer up a little. After that, he forced himself to put aside the remaining matters at hand and hurried to Fang Ru's room to take care of her.
After all, Zhao Junchen had already made a promise before, promising that he would try his best to accompany Fang Ru. Although he was quickly slapped in the face and forced to break his promise, and those promises soon turned into a joke, Zhao Junchen still refused. Plan to give up on your commitment completely.
"Although I broke my promise, I didn't completely break my promise. I just broke my promise a little bit... I hope Fang Ru has gone to bed at this time and didn't deliberately wait for me..."
Under the darkening night, Zhao Junchen comforted himself in his heart as he hurried to Fang Ru's room.
While he was thinking deeply, Zhao Junchen had arrived outside Fang Ru's room again, only to find that the lights were still on in the room.
When Zhao Junchen entered Fang Ru's bedroom, he found that Fang Ru was still half lying on the bed, her cheeks were still flushed with fever, and her body was still weak and weak.
At the same time, Fang Ru's maid Xiaobi was holding a book of poems and reading aloud.
This kind of prenatal education method was still due to Zhao Junchen's casual words some time ago, but Fang Ru obviously remembered it in his heart, and he still didn't forget it even when he was sick.
Seeing Zhao Junchen pushing in the door, Fang Ru immediately lost her weakness and sluggishness, and seemed to regain a lot of energy in an instant, with a smile as bright as a flower.
Zhao Junchen walked to Fang Ru's bed and asked, "Ru'er, are you waiting for me on purpose?"
Fang Ru shook her head and said: "Ru'er also wants to wait for my husband, but after all, the most important thing is to raise the baby. It's just that I already slept once in the afternoon, and now I can't sleep, so I asked Xiaobi to recite poems to the fetus in her belly. I hope This child will be as successful as a master in the future...
In the past, Ru'er had always read it to her unborn child, but today Ru'er's throat was a little swollen and sore, so she asked Xiao Bi to read it for her..."
Zhao Junchen nodded, and then waved Xiaobi to leave the room. He sat beside Fang Ru's bed, picked up the copy of poetry left by Xiaobi, leaned close to Fang Ru's bulging belly, and turned over After opening a page, he continued to read softly: "It's as white as snow on the mountain, as bright as the moon in the clouds; I heard that you have two opinions, so I came to fight with you; today's drinking party, the water in the ditch is bright; I'm walking on the ditch, and the water in the ditch is east and west. Flowing; miserable and miserable again, no need to cry when getting married; wishing to have the person of your heart, we will never be apart until we grow old together..."
As Zhao Junchen recited softly, Fang Ru still watched Zhao Junchen's warm performance with her bright eyes at first, but soon she gradually closed her eyes, her breathing gradually slowed down, and she fell asleep again, with a pursed mouth. smile.
*
For Zhao Junchen, this kind of warmth is rare and never lasts long.
But for the seventh prince Zhu Hejian, he has never been able to experience this kind of warmth since he was born.
Because of this, Zhu Hejian never blindly trusts anyone, nor blindly relies on anyone.
Zhu Hejian knew very well that when he faced real difficulties, he could only rely on himself and believe in himself!
Therefore, while Zhao Junchen, Zhou Shangjing and others were making plans secretly, and even Wang Baoren had other plans, after Zhu Hejian arrived in Nanjing, he only rested briefly for one night and quickly became busy.
Because of Wang Baoren's reminder, Zhu Hejian was already very clear about the dilemma he would face next - he would soon be forced to stand up and preside over the chaotic situation in Nanjing's officialdom, and he would also have to personally deal with the series of problems Zhou Shangjing had prepared for him. !
Although Wang Baoren was an ally that Zhu Hejian had high hopes for, he obviously had other thoughts at this time. He wanted to take the opportunity to test Zhu Hejian's character and methods, and also wanted to take the opportunity to strengthen his status and influence in Zhu Hejian's mind. Therefore, Zhu Hejian still only Can rely on oneself.
Zhu Hejian had actually been used to this situation for a long time. Although he secretly resented Wang Baoren's reaction, he did not complain too much and just devoted all his energy to various preparations.
However, although Wang Baoren had other plans and did not help Zhu Hejian to the end, he still helped Zhu Hejian a lot - not only guessed the full picture of Zhou Shangjing's plan in advance, but also calculated Zhou Shangjing's specific methods in advance, and The two staff he recommended to Zhu Hejian, namely Lu De and Fu Pingsheng, were indeed outstanding in ability and provided a lot of help to Zhu Hejian.
The day after Zhu Hejian arrived in Nanjing, with the assistance of Lu De and Fu Pingsheng, and a series of intelligence provided by Jia Lun secretly, Zhu Hejian quickly clarified the complex interest relationships in Nanjing officialdom, and the The current complex and chaotic situation.
During this period, Zhu Hejian also discovered another thing, that is - why Wang Baoren valued the young Lu De so much!
"Oh? In this case, Mr. Lu, you are very familiar with that Jiangnan talented man Zhao Shancai?"
On this day, while Zhu Hejian was taking a break and chatting with two staff members, he also took the opportunity to find out Lu De's identity. However, he soon discovered a very interesting piece of information, which he confirmed.
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